Fully automatic rivet gun



Oct. 1l, 1966 P. ANTHONY 3,277,639

FULLY AUTOMATIC RIVET GUN Filed Aug. 31, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l Rm m0 mm VN NA I L U m ATTORNE YS Get. il, 1966 P. ANTHONY FULLY AUTOMATIC RIVET GUN 2 Sheets-She@C 2 Aug. 51

| llll \/7a INVENTOR. PA UL ANTHONY ATTORN EY S United States Patent C) 3,277,689 FULLY AUTMATIC RIVET GUN Paul Anthony, 1552 N. Xanthus, rIulsa, Okla. Filed Aug. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 393,262 6 Claims. (Cl. 72-391) This invention relates to an improved rivet gun. More particularly, this invention rela-tes to an improved rivet gun for mechanically first pulling and folding and second driving and set-ting blind rivets and the like.

The present application yis a continuation-impart of copending application Serial Number 172,012, led February 8, 1962, on Automatic Pull Gun, now Patent No. 3,190,104.

Blind rivets are in common use today to hold metallic parts together. These rivets are designed to extend through appropriate registering holes in the metallic parts and to be set by a setting tool commonly referred to as a rivet gun operated usually by a single operator located on one side only of the metallic parts. In setting these blind rivets a pulling force is initially applied to the rivet pin to produce a fold in the rivet sleeve on one side of the parts to be connected together. A driving or compression force is then applied to the head of the rivet to deform a tubular projection into a conical recess provided in the head of the rivet. Finally, continued pulling of the rivet pin breaks off the pin at a weak point or break neck, thereby completing the rivet setting operation. Since these rivets are made in a variety of sizes to accommodate work pieces of various sizes and are also made of a variety of strengths, it is necessary to use either a variety of rivet guns or a single gun having adjustable pull-l ing and driving strength characteristics. Obviously, the most efficient arrangement is a rivet gun that can be adjusted through a variety of pulling and driving strength characteristics.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a pulling and driving tool for blind rivets and the like which overcomes the problems associated in the use of various sizes, types and styles of rivets.

It is another object of this invention to provide an automatic actuated rivet gun for setting blind rivets and the like which is easily adjustable to accommodate various sizes and styles of rivets.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a mechanically actuated rivet gun which includes means for adjusting the characteristics of the gun to accommodate any one of a variety of styles, types and sizes of blind rivets and also includes an indicator means for visually indicating the adjustment setting of the gun.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an improved rivet gun for setting blind rivets that includes a thrust actua-tor mechanism that operates during the rst stage of operation of the gun to assist in exerting a folding force upon the sleeve of the rivet and that kicks out of operation during the second stage of opertaion of the gun whereby a pulling action can be applied to the rivet pin to set the rivet and break the pin thereby freeing the gun from the thusly set rivet.

Still a fur-ther object of this invention is to provide an improved rivet gun that is economical to manufacture and assemble and is durable, efcient, easy to operate, and reliable in operation.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part off this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIGURES 1 and 2 are partial sectional views of a conventional blind rivet, before and after the setting oper- 3,277,689 Patented Oct. 1l, 1966 ation, respectively, as carried out by the improved rivet gun of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional elevational view of the improved rivet gun embodying the present invention, and depicting the first stage of the rivet set-ting operation.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3. v

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the thrust mechanism of the gun of FIGURE 3 in the second stage of the rivet setting operation,

FIGURE 6 is a ltop view of the thrust me-chanism of the gun of FIGURE 3 showing particularly the visual indicating mechanism of the gun.

General operational description This invention is concerned generally with an improved rivet gun for the pulling and driving of blind rivets, the process of which is generally depicted in FIGURES l and 2. This process is substantially the same as that described in co-pending application Automatic Pull Gun, Serial Number 172,012, led February 8, 1962.

As shown in the figures, work pieces and 22 are to be fastened together .by the rivet which includes a pin portion generally indicated by the numeral 24 and a collar portion generally indicated by the numeral 26. The pin 24 includes a head portion 28 and a shank portion 30. Forwardly of and between the shank `and Ithe head 28 is an enlarged diameter shoulder portion 32. A forwardly and inwardly shaped groove 34 is immediately behind the shank 30 and terminates with a short cylindrical surfaces 36. A break neck 38 extends between the forward portion of the pin and a rearward length of pin 40 which terminates in gripping grooves, not shown. The collar 26 includes a forward sleeve portion 42 and a rearward flange portion 44. The sleeve includes a forward cylindrical recess 46 within which that portion of the rivet, forward of the break neck 38, is moved. The flange portion of the collar includes a conical recess 48 within which tubular projection is driven.

In the rst operational phase, the rivet assembly is initially Iinserted into aligned apertures of the work pieces 20 and 22 which are to be fastened together. Pin 24 is pulled relative to collar 26 while a forward reaction force is maintained against flange 44. As the shoulder 32 is driven lwith the recesses 46 of sleeve 42, the shank 30 of the rivet pin expands the sleeve 4portion to till the apertures yin the work pieces 20 and 22 while upsetting or folding the end of the sleeve 42 against head portion 28 to form a blind head of the rivet sleeve.

In the second phase the pin pulling force is substantially increased such that, by one arrangement of parts, hereinafter described, there is substantially simultaneous or sequential driving or shearing of projection 45 into the space between conical recess 48 and the tapered pin portion 34 forming what is termed a conical keystone lock or set and thereafter shearing of the break neck portion 38.

Accordingly, in the assembly of the rivet type above described, it can be appreciated that when various thicknesses of work pieces, requiring various types and sizes of blind rivet pins and collars, are used there must be sequenced coordination of the pulling and driving operations to form a locked assembly such as illustrated in FIGURE 2. A premature shearing of the break neck or driving of the projection will form an incomplete or unusable connection.

Specific description Referring now to FIGURE 3, for a specic description of this invention, there is shown the improved rivet gun 10 of this invention that operates to set a blind rivet as above described. The rivet gun 10 is similar in construction to the automatic pull gun described in the co-pend- 3 ing application, Seri-al Number 172,012, except as to the thrust transfer mechanism 140. The rivet gun of this in vention includes an interior actuating shaft 52 which extends longitudinally of the gun. At the forward end of shaft 52 a collet retaining sleeve 54 is threadably attached to the shaft 52. Within the sleeve are a multiplicity of collet members 56 whose interior includes gripper edges for interlocking eng-agement with gripper teeth, not shown, at the rear end of rivet pin 40. A spring element 58 normally 'biases the collet members into such interlocking engagement, yet will permit the collet member 56 to be forced rearwardly and thereby open to permit insertion of the gripper teeth on the next rivet pin 40 and force the remaining pin rearwardly out.

The rearmost end of longitudinally actuating shaft 52 is attached to a pulling mechanism designated generally by the numeral 60. An actuating piston 62 is threadably attached to the longitudinal shaft 52 and is reciprocably movable within cylindrical housing 64. The housing 64 terminates its rearward end with a handle portion 66 which is that portion beyond the stop guide 68. A spring 70 within the housing normally biases the piston member 62, and hence the shaft 52, forward. A guide element 72 maintains the piston 62 in the position shown and is movable within longitudinal guide slots 74 within the outer cylindrical housing 64. At the lower end of piston 62 are a multiplicity of ratchet teeth 76 within which the pivotal pawl member 78 tits to cause rearward actuation and pulling movement of piston 62, shaft 52 and rivet pin 40. The pawl 78 is pivotal on a handle mem-ber 80 about shaft 82. The handle itself is pivotal about shaft 84 which is lixed upon a support member 86 formed as a part of housing 64. Coil spring 88 biases the handle normally outwardly and away from the longitudinal axis of the gun. A resilient shock member 90 is adapted as a part of the handle to engage the body and housing of the gun during operation. A flat spring member 92 is attached to the cylindrical housing 64 by a locking bolt 94.

This spring tends to maintain or force the movable pawl into the matching slots 76. A fixed pawl member 96 is spring biased inward to maintain the piston 62 in a given position during that period when the movable pawl is being actuated to another slot 76. A thumb release lever 98 is attached thereto in that instance it is desired to release the piston 62 and -permit its travel forward under the force of spring 70 to the forwardmost position.

Intermediate the actuator shaft 52 are two diagrammatically opposite elongated guide recesses 100 and 101. A guide pin 104 extends into the guide recess 100 to maintain the shaft 52 in longitudinal alignment upon the longitudinal movement of the shaft. The guide pin 104 is threaded through the -bottom portion of the housing of the thrust transfer mechanism 140. Thrust transfer mechanism 140 is provided with a rearward tubular extension 107 that is xed to the cylindrical housing 64 by threaded lattachment 110 and lock nut 112. The guide recess 100 also permits sheared rivet pins 40 to be removed from the apparatus as they are pushed rearwardly by insertion of a new pin within the collet members 54.

An outer anvil 118 is coaxially mounted with respect to the reduced forward end portion of a forward tubular extension 108 of thrust transfer mechanism 140. A thrust bushing 116 is slidably located coaxially within outer anvil 118, abutting the forward end of tubular extension 108. An inner anvil 122 is movable within the forward axial opening 120 of outer anvil 118 and in the space between thrust bushing 116 and outer anvil 118. The outer anvil 118 is movable with respect to the tubular extension 108 and is attached to a cylindrical sleeve 132 that is received coaxially about the tubular extension 108. The attachment between the sleeve 132 and the outer anvil 118 is made by means of a threaded collar 136 that is threadably attached to the sleeve 132 in interference relation with an axial flange 134 provided on the outer anvil 118.

Located between the sleeve 132 and the cylindrical body 64 and connecting them together is a thrust transfer mechanism referred to generally as 140. Thrust transfer mechanism 140 includes an upwardly rising housing having a lback 142 and two sides 144 and 146. A kick out element 148 is pivotally attached between the two sides 144 and 146 by means of a transverse pin 150 that extends through an elongated slot 152 in the member 14S. A thrust transferring link 154 is pivotally attached to kick out member 148 by transverse pin 155. Link 154 extends forwardly into pivotal attachment with sleeve 132, within slot 156, by means of transverse pin 157. A latching member 158 is also pivotally attached to the housing in the space between the two side walls 144 and 146 by means of a transverse pin 160 that extends through the member 158, near the bottom thereof. Another transverse pin 162 extends between walls 144 and 146, forward of member 158 and above pin 160, to limit the forward pivoting of member 158. Member 158 is provided on its forward side with a slot 164 in which a lbeveled lug 166 provided on the rearward portion of the kick out element 148 normally resides. A spring 168 is located between the rearward portion 142 of the housing and the rearward side of member 158 thereby to normally bias member 158 in its forwardmost pivoted position. Spring 168 is retained in this position by means of a spring guide bolt 170 and collar 172. The compression pressure applied to the member 158 by spring 168 can be varied by advancing or withdrawing bolt 170 in the threaded hole provided therefor in the rearward portion 142 of the housing.

It should be noted that in the initial folding portion of the operation of this gun a thrust pressure from squeezing handle is applied through the cylindrical housing 64, spring 168, latching member 158, kick out element 148, link 154, and cylindrical sleeve 132, and is applied against flange 44 of the rivet. At the same time, a pulling pressure is applied through the shaft 52, collet member 54, to the pin 40 of the rivet, thereby producing the fold in the rivet sleeve 26.

It should be noted that while thrust transfer mechanism is operating to transmit thrust from pulling mechanism 60 to outer anvil 118, the reaction forces acting upon kick out element 148 at lug 166 and pin 155 produce oppositely directed force moments about the pin which is the pivot point of kick out element 148. However, when the clockwise moment produced by the reactive force at pin exceeds the reactive force produced -at lug 166 by conta-ct with latching member 158, which is a function of the compressive force of spring 16S, kick out element will kick out or pivot in a clockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 5.

By proper setting of compressive force of spring 168 through adjusting screw 170, kick out element 148 will not pivot out of contact with latching member 158 until the initial folding portion of the rivet setting operation is completed. After kick out element 148 kicks out thrust transfer mechanism 140 is free to move forward free of and toward sleeve 132. Therefore, continued squeezing of handle 80 will advance the forward tubular extension 108 of thrust transfer mechanism 140 against the adjacent end of thrust bushing 116. Thrust bushing 116 is then urged forwardly against inner anvil 122, forcing inner anvil against the projection 45 of the rivet ange 44 to shear the projection into the conical recess 48 thereby filling that space between the conical opening and the tapered recess 34 to form a keystone lock. Subsequent squeezing of handle 80 increases the pull on shaft 52 sufficiently to shear break neck 38 thereby completing the rivet setting operation.

When the setting operation of the rivet is completed the handle 80 is released by depressing the thumb actuator 98 which results in the piston 62 moving to its forwardmost position. The kick out element 148 then automatically pivots back into its latched position relative to element 158 and the gun is ready to be used in setting another rivet.

As was pointed out above, there are a variety of sizes of blind rivets in use today. The improved gun of this invention is adaptable to set any of these blind rivets by making simple adjustments in the thrust transfer mechanism 140. As was described above, spring 168 is set with a predetermined amount of compression calculated to retain latching member 158 in latching contact with kick out element 148 until the initial folding portion of the setting operation for a particular size rivet is completed. When a rivet of a different size, having different strength characteristics, is to be set by this gun, the cornpression in spring 168 is adjusted accordingly by simple advancing or retracting spring retaining and adjusting screw 170. Screw 170 is provided on its external rearward end with a collar 182 on which a vertical indicator dial or pointer 184 is freely retained. Pointer 184 extends upwardly through a longitudinal slot 176 provided in the rearward end portion of top cover plate 178. Cover plate 178 is retained in opposite longitudinal grooves 180 provided in the internal surfaces of sides 144 and 146 by screw 181. As is best seen in FIGURE 6, the sides of slot 176 are provided with indicia that are calibrated to correspond to the correct setting for spring retaining and adjusting screw 170 for the setting of the different types of rivets. Therefore, when a rivet of a particular type is to be set, the adjusting screw 170 is moved to bring pointer 184 in line with the appropriate calibration on plate 178 and the gun is ready to receive and set the rivet chosen.

Operation In operation of the rivet gun of this invention the thickness of the work pieces 20 and 22 are first determined. A-fter determining the manufacturers recommended size and type of rivet, the spring retaining and setting screw 170 is then moved to bring pointer 184 into alignment with the appropriate calibration on the plate 178 to match with the type of rivet chosen. The gripping portion of the rivet is then inserted through the coaxial openings in the inner anvil 122 and the outer anvil 118 and forward thrust bushing 116 into interlocking engagement with the collet members 56. The forward sleeve 42 of the rivet is inserted within the opening of the work pieces. A slight press forward is given to the rivet gun by grasping the handle portion 66 such that the thumb of the operator is on one side of the stop shield 68 and the fingers extend on the other side so as to grasp pivotal handle 80. Upon squeezing the handle towards the cylindrical housing 64, piston 62 is caused to move rearwardly against spring 70 and in turn begins the first operational phase of pulling the attached actuating shaft 52. This movement draws shank 30 and shoulder 32 of rivet pin 40 into sleeve 42 thereby folding sleeve 42 to form the blind upset 50 as heretofore described.

During this first pulling phase of the rivet setting operation the back up or thrust force is applied from the handle 60 through the cylindrical body 64, thrust transfer mechanism housing 140, spring 168, latching element 158, kick out member 148, link 154, sleeve 132, and outer anvil 118 to the fiange portion 44 of the rivet.

After the folding operation is completed and the rivet pin can effectively be moved no further through the rivet and work pieces, the pressure applied through the thrust transfer mechanism housing 140 by continued squeezing of the handle 80 becomes so great as to cause the kick out member 148 to kick out of engagement with the latching element 158 as above described. When this occurs, the thrust transfer mechanism housing 140 is free to move forwardly relative to sleeve 132 and outer anvil 118. In so doing the forward end of the forward tubular extension 108 of thrust transfer mechanism 140 contacts the thrust bushing 116 which actuates the inner anvil 122 forwardly against the projection 45 of the rivet head.

Continued movement deforms the projection into the `space 48 thereby setting the rivet. Finally, the rivet pin 40 is sheared at the break neck portion 38, thereby completing the rivet setting operation and freeing the rivet gun for receiving the next rivet.

It should be noted that th-roughout the operation of the rivet gun as above described a tensional pull is applied through the actuator shaft 52, collet 54, to the rivet pin 40. However, the operation of the thrust transfer mechanism 14() functions to re-route the back up oppositely acting force first through the outer anvil 118 during the initial folding operation and finally through the inner anvil 122 during the setting and shearing portion of the operation. Furthermore, at the completion of the rivet setting operation the rivet pin is sheared and the rivet gun is freed for the next setting operation. The next rivet to be set is positioned within the collet 56 as above described and the gun is ready for operation.

The invention has been described by reference to specific and preferred embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, this invention should be construed not to be limited to the embodiment herein described, but should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A .rivet gun for operationally first, pulling and folding and second, driving and setting blind rivets and the like comprising:

an axially moveable actuating shaft having means at its forward end to removably retain said rivet;

a cylindrical housing coaxial with at least the rear portion of said shaft;

an actuating means attachable to said housing and to vsaid shaft, and operable to actuate said shaft relative to said housing;

an outer anvil coaxial with and extending forward -of at least the forward portion of said shaft, said shaft axially moveable relative to said outer anvil;

an inner anvil coaxially located interiorly of said outer anvil, forward of said shaft, said inner annil being axially moveable relative to said outer anvil;

axially aligned openings in said outer anvil and said inner anvil to permit insertion of said rivet for retention on said shaft;

a thrust transfer mechanism positioned between said cylindrical housing and said outer and inner anvils, said thrust transfer mechanism automatically operable between first and sec-ond positions to transfer the reaction thrust from said cylindrical housing to said outer anvil in said first position and to transfer the reaction thrust from said cylindrical housing to said inner anvil in said second position.

2. A rivet gun according to claim 1, wherein said thrust transfer mechanism remains in said first position during the rivet pulling and folding portion of the operation of said gun, and automatically switches to said second position at the beginning of and during the rivet driving and setting portion of the operation of said gun.

3. A rivet gun according t-o claim 1, wherein said thrust transfer mechanism is adjustable according to the size of said rivet.

4. A rivet gun for operationally first, pulling and folding and second, driving and setting blind rivets and the like, comprising:

an axially moveable actuating shaft having means at its forward end to removably retain said rivet;

an outer cylindrical housing coaxial with at least the rear portion of said shaft;

an actuating means attachable to said cylindrical housing and to said shaft andvoperable to apply a pulling force to said shaft and a thrusting reaction force to said cylindrical housing to actuate said shaft relative t-o said cylindrical housing;

an outer anvil coaxially surrounding and extending forwardly of .at least the forward portion of said shaft, said shaft being axially moveable relative to said outer anvil;v

an elongated cylindrical thrust bearing located coaxially interiorly of said outer anvil and surrounding at least the rivet retaining means on said shaft;

an inner anvil located forwardly of said thrust bearing, coaxially interiorly of said outer anvil, said inner anvil being longitudinally moveable in a ceutral passage in the forward end of said outer anvil;

a central opening in said inner anvil, coaxial with said passage, to permit insertion of said rivet for retention on said shaft;

a thrust transfer mechanism positi-oned between said cylindrical housing at one end and said outer anvil and said thrust bearing at the other end, said thrust transfer mech-anism including a multi-link mechani- -cal linkage automatically operable between first and secon-d positions to transfer said thrusting reaction force from said cylindrical housing to said outer anvil in said first position and to transfer said thrusting reaction force from said cylindrical housing to said th-rust bearing to cause relative movement of said inner anvil when in said second position.

S. A rivet gun according to claim 4, wherein said thrust transfer mechanism is adjustable according to the size of said rivet and is provided with means to visibly indicate sai-d adjustment.

6. A rivet gun according to claim 4 wherein said thrust transfer mechanism comprises:

a housing having two side walls and a back wall, said housing being attached rearwardly to said cylindrical housing and said housing contacting forwardly said thrust bearing;

a passage through said housing in which said shaft is longitudinally moveably located;

a kick out element pivotally attached between said side walls, said element provided with a rearwardly extending beveled lug;

a connecting link pivotally attached at one end to said kick out element, at a point forward and below the p-oint of attachment of said element to said side walls, the other end of said link attached to said outer anvil;

a latching mem-ber pivotally attached between said side walls, rearwardly of said kick yout element, said latching member provided on its forward surface with .a notch for releasably receiving therein said lug when said thrust transfer mechanism is in said first position;

a compression spring extending between said back wall and said latching member, the compression in said spring being pre-adjusted to urge said latching member forwardly to retain said lug in said notch during said first rivet pulling and fold-ing operation and to allow said latching mem-ber to pivot rearwardly to release said lug during said second rivet driving and setting operation;

a spring retaining and adjusting screw adjustably exten-ding through said back wall into retaining relation with the rearward end of s-aid spring;

indicator means to visibly indicate the adjustment of said screw.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,582,417 l/ 1952 Croessant 72-391 3,038,626 6/1962 Simmons 72-391 3,187,546 6/19615 Simmons 72-391 3,190,104 6/1965 Anthony 72-391 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. G. P. CROSBY, Assistant Examiner. Y 

1. A RIVET GUN FOR OPERATIONALLY FIRST, PULLING AND FOLDING AND SECOND, DRIVING AND SETTING BLIND RIVETS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING: 